Architects And Engineers Say These Are The Most Amazing Tall Buildings Of The Year

In 2011, 88 new towers over 200 meters (656 ft.) high were built in the world--a record number, compared to the 32 new towers built in 2005. There are another 96 new towers slated for completion this year, with China being the biggest builder.

But with so many new additions to skylines around the world, which buildings are the best?

The group chose the best buildings in each of four regional categories: the Americas, Asia and Australia, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. There's an additional innovation award given to the most innovative building. Criteria include sustainability, innovation, and design.

The list includes a sexy, curvaceous pair of towers, a sky-high glass-enclosed atrium, and a building that breathes and moves with the sun, among others.

The Absolute Towers in Mississauga, Canada, a fast-growing suburb of Toronto, were named the best tall buildings in the Americas.

The towers earned the nickname "Marilyn Monroe" for their sexy, curvaceous figures--just like the late legendary actress. "We see the entire building twisting to achieve the organic form, creating a beautiful new landmark for a developing urban area," engineer David Scott said in a statement.

The residential towers, which are set to be completed in August 2012, will reach a height of 179.5 meters (589 ft.) and 158 meters (518 ft.).

1 Bligh Street was named the best tall building in Asia & Australasia. This 28-story elliptical tower stands out from the boxy structures nearby, in the heart of Sydney’s central business district.

ingenhoven architects + Architectus / H.G. Esch, Hennef

The centerpiece of 1 Bligh Street is the glass- and aluminum-lined atrium, Australia’s tallest naturally ventilated sky lit atrium. It carries through the full height of the building--up to 135 meters (443 ft.). “The dramatic, naturally-ventilated central atrium connects the office workers with nature at the inner depths of the plan, giving a sense of openness for the entire building," juror Werner Sobek said in a statement.

ingenhoven architects + Architectus / H.G. Esch, Hennef

This innovative building has a double-skin, naturally-ventilated glass façade and a hybrid system using gas and solar energy to generate cooling, heating and electricity for the building.

The Palazzo Lombardia offers a variety of open spaces and passageways. The building's central piazza is covered by a curved glass roof and is meant to evoke the city's famed Galleria.

The building embraces sustainability, with green roofs and active climate walls with vertical blades that rotate to provide shade. "More than simply a tower, the project creates a cohesive blend of parks and commercial space, with an appropriately local flair," executive director of CTBUGH Antony Wood said.

The Doha Tower in Qatar was named the best tall building in the Middle East and Africa. The 46-story tower has a distinct cylindrical shape.

Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel

The multi-layered patterns adorning the facade evoke ancient Islamic screens designed to shade buildings from the sun. “The skin of the building is a beautiful expression of the local culture, connecting this very modern tower with ancient Islamic designs," juror Richard Cook said. "It also provides a fantastic pattern of light within the building.”

Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel

There is no central core in the Doha Tower, maximizing the interior space available for tenants. The tower, which was designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, was completed in March 2012.

Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel

Al Bahar Towers in Abu Dhabi was named the most innovative tall building in the world.

Courtesy Aedas

The 29-story office building was given the innovation award for its dynamic façade, which opens and closes in response to the movement of the sun. This reduces solar gain by more than 50 percent, creating a more comfortable environment for occupants. The façade design also works with the local culture, evoking a wooden lattice screen traditionally found in Islamic architecture.

Courtesy Aedas

The façade of the Al Bahar Towers is controlled by a computer. "The dynamic façade on Al Bahar, computer-controlled to respond to optimal solar and light conditions, has never been achieved on this scale before," architect Chris Wilkinson said. "In addition, the expression of this outer skin seems to firmly root the building in its cultural context.”